China Will Become a Major Astronautical Player

China has been developing a very ambitious space program for the past few decades, and 2013 will be its landmark year. They plan to launch 20 spacecraft over the course of the year, including a new line of manned space laboratories. In addition, Chang'e-3, an unmanned lunar lander and rover, will be launched this year, marking China's first lunar landing. Chinese officials hope to achieve a manned moon landing by 2020.